Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Three years ago I bought 1:1 CB Common chucks from the guy at Deer Fern Farms. They are now growing well...however, he told me at the time not give them water bowls...just feed them fresh vegetable mix. I never have. Now I also have 2:2 Angel Island chucks and I have also not ever given them any water. What are other peoples feelings on this? My chucks have done fine without it, but was curious what others do. Do any of you bath your chucks? I have just picked up 1 male bearded dragon, and he loves to bath...and drinks from a water bowl. My chucks all appear fine...but was curious what others do.

Thanks.

norm

When I was trying to get my wc female established I gave her a small water bowl, but she never seemed to use it. Now I just offer them fresh veggies and no additional water. I've read accounts of some chucks who have taken advantage of water bowls if I recall correctly most of the chucks that I read about drinking were emaciated / dehydrated animals.

I don't regularly bathe my chucks. When I go to use Rigel for an educational program etc., I'll often give him a short bath to get him cleaned up if he's looking kind of dirty. He hates it and will run away and hide and sulk when I put him back in his tank. My wc girl Gracie likewise hates baths (or any handling for that matter). The chuck I took care of in my college herp room also hated them; he'd blow up like a ballon and go rigid. But, still that's only a sample size of three

-Alice

Hi there,

I recently came back into the Chuck scene, but thought I'd chime in. I caught a pretty malnourished baby Chuck about a month ago. She has since grown almost a centimeter, and gained considerable weight. I attribute this to feeding her freshly washed food. Everything i give her, I run through the sink first, and I guarantee that she gets some water out of it. As for drinking standing water, as of now she won't, but, like Alice said, I haven't seen a Chuck that will. Hope I helped.

-Phil

As stated by everyone, usually they draw water from the veggies they eat, however all of my chucks from Angel Islands to orange tails will drink on occasion if I use a spray and spray the rocks they will lap up the water. I never put a water bowl in the cage.........
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

>>Three years ago I bought 1:1 CB Common chucks from the guy at Deer Fern Farms. They are now growing well...however, he told me at the time not give them water bowls...just feed them fresh vegetable mix. I never have. Now I also have 2:2 Angel Island chucks and I have also not ever given them any water. What are other peoples feelings on this? My chucks have done fine without it, but was curious what others do. Do any of you bath your chucks? I have just picked up 1 male bearded dragon, and he loves to bath...and drinks from a water bowl. My chucks all appear fine...but was curious what others do.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>norm

I actually was told and have read chucks can get RIs (repertory illnesses) if you bath them or get them wet. I have 16 snakes...I am not looking for a new water bowl to change, but it sure is strange and to be honest kinda cool that these lizards do not require water bowls or insects for nourishment. Makes them the easiest lizards to keep, as long as you give them the heat and UV light needed.
I love my angel island and regular chucks. They are great...beardies are pretty great too, but need the above. Why would anyone want to deal with iguanas and their size when you can these awesome and personal lizards for pets?!

norm

Well, I have to raise my hand and say, "I do." It isn't a big water bowl; it's very shallow and I don't really expect them to drink out of it. However, last April, my 8 yr. old Chuck died from renal failure caused by dehydration. I never had a water bowl in her enclosure; I was told she didn't need it. I gave her veggies and I always washed the greens that I gave her (so they had water droplets on them) and I was told that was more than enough water, but I guess it wasn't.

So, now I put water in my babies' tank. If they want it, it's there. It's in the corner of their tank next to their food (I have a 24" x 36" acryllic tank). My female usually stands in it while she's attempting to climb. I usually run a humidifier for myself in the winter; this year I'm running a bigger one.

I frequently mist my chuck tank when I'm misting my iguana. The chucks hate it, but I keep telling them, when they turn 9 years old, they'll thank me.

Char

>>Well, I have to raise my hand and say, "I do." It isn't a big water bowl; it's very shallow and I don't really expect them to drink out of it. However, last April, my 8 yr. old Chuck died from renal failure caused by dehydration. I never had a water bowl in her enclosure; I was told she didn't need it. I gave her veggies and I always washed the greens that I gave her (so they had water droplets on them) and I was told that was more than enough water, but I guess it wasn't.
>>
>>So, now I put water in my babies' tank. If they want it, it's there. It's in the corner of their tank next to their food (I have a 24" x 36" acryllic tank). My female usually stands in it while she's attempting to climb. I usually run a humidifier for myself in the winter; this year I'm running a bigger one.
>>
>>I frequently mist my chuck tank when I'm misting my iguana. The chucks hate it, but I keep telling them, when they turn 9 years old, they'll thank me.
>>
>>Char
>>
Wow renal failure...yech. My animals are in my snake room so the humidity is pretty high for them...I have a meter in their tank and its always on the high end...I may go ahead and add a little water in with them.
Sorry to hear about your loss.

Norm Hill

i missed out on this discussion back when it was a hot topic, but I have 2-cents' worth of a comment, so here goes. The only time I've seen my chucks drink is right before or right after they lay eggs. These females, who haven't eaten much for awhile and are definitely skinny in the tail, will drink a small amount of water prior to egg-laying. They then drink up to 2 gravy ladles full of water the first time I offer it to them right after they've finished de-egging themselves. Then they drink again in a couple of hours, but usually only a little bit, and then they shun any further water offerings. It always surprises me how comfortable they seem to be while drinking when they need to, considering how much they seem to fear and detest water when they don't. My female uros also drink after egg-laying, but at no other time have I seen them imbibe.

I see no reason not to provide water... I was always told they don't drinnk from a dish but I felt it would be cruel to not provide one just in case...and lo and behold I caught mine in the act several times... it was only during the summer, so I'm guessing the higher temperatures had something to with it. But I provide it year round, you just never know if and when they'll need a drink.